At a time, the government said the economy was bad, and so, came up with some measures to stop the downward slide of the economy. Among the measures, the one that rattled the students was the removal of education subsidy.
The university students, through their association stood firm, in one voice to condemn the removal, accusing the government of trying to make education a preserve of the rich, and out of reach of the common man.
All the explanations the government gave to convince the citizens of the need to remove education subsidy fell on the deaf ears of the students. They did not want to hear any argument in support of the proposed removal.
The students argued that the reason for the downward trend of the economy hinged on the extravagant lifestyle of the politicians. They said the politicians were living in opulence, while the masses were living in abject poverty. In a nutshell, they believed that if the wasteful expenditure of the politicians was curtailed, the nation would have no business talking about poor economy.
In addition they insisted, the cost of governance, most of all, was outrageous. How can we justify the maintenance of numerous irrelevant and unviable ministries, coupled with redundant personal advisers and assistants the politicians parade?
They warned that failure to reverse the measure of education subsidy removal would meet with a nationwide demonstration to press for their demand.
The government didn't want to face the students frontally instead, they planned to tackle the students with diplomacy. This was due to the fact that previous students' demonstrations had a story of their confrontation with law enforcement agencies, and ended in disasters and even deaths. The government did not want a repeat of that at all.
The best way to deal with the students was through their union executives, they believed.
"If we can buy them over, the rest of the students would be weak and unable to organize a demonstration". One minister suggested.
"You're correct", responded another.
"Strike the shepherd and disorganize the sheep", the other said, alluding to a sentence from the Bible.
Agreeing on this, an emissary was secretly sent to the president of the students union in the person of Emma Okafor. The emissary made a mouthwatering offer to him - a car, house and 10 million in cash.
"Sir", Emma replied. "I humbly reject this offer".
"Why not give it a thought?" The emissary suggested.
"This is not about myself. We're talking about the masses, the downtrodden, the present and future children of the teaming poor".
After much talk without agreement, the emissary left.
The government was not done yet. They sent another emissary in the person of the traditional ruler of Emma's community, His Royal Majesty, King Ikenga Okon to help persuade Emma to back down.
The king invited Emma to his palace and after treating him to a mini feast started, "My son, I learned a government official paid you a visit the other day."
"Yes, Your Majesty".
"Did he offer you all that the government has in stock for you, if you call off the demonstration?"
"I don't really know."
"Well, the government has told me to tell you they have increased the offer. You will get a car, house and 20 million paid into your bank account. At the same time, each member of your executive will get a car, house and 10 million in cash.
"Father, I have thought about the government's offer but, like I told the official, the issue is not about me, or other executive members. The..."
The Royal Father sensed the direction of Emma's thought, and interrupted him. "Why not discuss this with other members of the executive?" He suggested.
"We have been having series of meetings. Our resolution is one, and firm. I know what their response will be already but, to avoid any doubt, I'll call a meeting as soon as I leave here."
Emma did call the emergency executive meeting as promised. The outcome as he earlier on thought was, "Except the subsidy is restored, the nation will witness a widespread protest in a few days time".
With this, a blanket of fear hung in the air because everyone knew such a protest was unpredictable, always tending to unpalatable consequences.
Few days to the planned demonstration, news had it that Emma was invited by the police. As he went, students eagerly waited for the outcome. The police didn't waste time in releasing him after a brief interrogation, to douse the tension.
The Commissioner of Police, after persuading Emma to back down without success, he warned him that he (Emma) would be held responsible for any ugly incidence that emanated from the demonstration.
48 hours to the D-Day, as early as 3:30 am, the police stormed Nanka State University campus and whisked Emma away.
The news spread like a wildfire. The body of the executives met, chaired by their vice president, Miss Ola. They came up with the slogan, "No going back". They believed that the government was about declaring war on them, and on their part, there's no going back. The demonstration must go on.
The students started mobilizing their members for the protest. An impending catastrophe loomed as the outcome could only be imagined.
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode called Emma privately, "Just accept the government offer and be free", he urged.
Emma was unyielding. He maintained his ground saying, there was no need to persuade him to call off the strike. "It's only the government that can stop the demonstration by withdrawing the policy of subsidy withdrawal", he insisted.
Since all efforts to make Emma to back down failed, the government decided to revisit the policy.
At 6:00 am on the day the demonstration was to start, the Education Minister, in the person of Mrs Aisha Aminu addressed the nation.
Part of her speech read, "While all the measures stated by the government to address the issue of our economy remained in place, that of the removal of education subsidy is hereby, suspended.
"By this, all actions by any agreived person or body as a reaction to the subsidy removal should be cancelled forthwith".
On the heels of the ministerial address was the address by the president of the students union, Emma where he cancelled the planned nationwide demonstration saying the victory belonged to all and sundry. He thanked the government for listening to the heartbeat of the children of the nation.
With this, everyone heaved a sigh of relief as peace reigned.
https://pixabay.com/illustrations/wolf-confidence-courage-bravery-9238643/
